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Pro-refugee mayor of Altena in Germany stabbed

Attacker being prosecuted for attempted murder after striking Andreas Hollstein of ruling CDU in the neck in a shop.

28 Nov 2017 16:48 GMT

The town of Altena, of which Andreas Hollstein is mayor, has been very welcoming to refugees over the last few years.
[File: The Associated Press]

The mayor of the German town of Altena has been stabbed, in what appears to be a political attack.

Andreas Hollstein, 57, was struck in the neck while in a kebab shop.

Witnesses said the attacker criticised the mayor's pro-refugee policy during the stabbing. The attack was stopped by Demir Abdullah, the shop owner, and his son.

Hollstein was lightly injured on his neck after the assailant put a large knife on his throat.

"You let me die of thirst but you bring 200 refugees to Altena," the attacker said, according to Hollstein.

"I was lucky the shop owners helped me," he said during a press conference.

"They risked their own lives by doing so. I'm sure that if they hadn't reacted like that, I wouldn't be alive."

The attacker is being prosecuted for attempted murder.

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Altena, a city with about 17,000 inhabitants, has been very welcoming to refugees coming to Germany, taking in more refugees than the quota set and using the slogan: "From refugee to fellow citizen" as a way to promote its open policy.

Hollstein, member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative CDU party, has been part of the driving force behind this pro-refugee stance.

In May, he received an award from Merkel for his part in integrating refugees into German society.

On Twitter, Merkel condemned the attack, saying she was appalled by the event. "I'm very relieved he can be with his family again. Thank you to those who have helped him."